Tobirama, Whose Sins Reach the Heavens, Will Not Die by the Cloud Ninja

[Space-Time: Second Hokage Time: Konoha 17 Unification Progress: 18%]

Hashirama only felt his form blur, and the next moment he vanished from the Hokage's Office, appearing in a dense forest.

Flying Thunder God? No, it should be another, more powerful Space-Time Ninjutsu! Flying Thunder God couldn't teleport someone away out of thin air. Was this the power of this gentleman's Rinnegan? As for whether it could be Genjutsu? Hashirama was confident—he still had the ability to discern mere illusions. Madara's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan couldn't make him falter for even a moment. If this truly was an illusion several times stronger than Madara's, then he could only accept it.

"Where is this?" "The world seventeen years from now, within the Land of Lightning." "The Kumogakure you mentioned earlier—is that the ninja village later established in the Land of Lightning?" "Yes."

Hashirama was deeply shaken. Had he really been brought to a future world seventeen years ahead? Could this gentleman truly be a deity comparable to the Sage of Six Paths? Still, as the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju quickly calmed down. After all, he hadn't forgotten his main purpose: to find out how Tobirama died. Closing his eyes, he sensed slightly. In an instant, he locked onto Tobirama's chakra signature in the distance. Then, driven by urgency to save his little brother, he immediately blurred and leaped toward that direction.

Natsu Yuu shook his head. These brother-complex types were really hard to handle—the moment they heard 'little brother' was in danger, they'd shatter the whole world! No choice. For now, as an ordinary person, how could Natsu Yuu keep up with Hashirama's speed? He had no option but to activate World Teleportation again.

Hundreds of meters away. On the branch of a lush tree, just as Hashirama landed, Natsu Yuu teleported and appeared beside him. He gestured for him to stay quiet and hide. Hashirama complied and looked toward the distant grassland. At that moment, 'Universe Two's Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju' was huddled with a squad of elite guards, discussing an escape plan.

"Is that really Tobirama? He's aged so much! His chakra isn't what it used to be either. That chakra signature—is he injured?" "And those two—Monkey and Danzo? And an Uchiha member? Each of them has an impressive aura, looking much more mature and reliable. Tobirama raised a fine batch of disciples!" Hashirama recognized Hiruzen and the others at a glance, silently marveling at their changes. Still, he was glad for Hiruzen Sarutobi's growth.

"Sir, what's going on with Tobirama and the others?" Hashirama turned to ask, deeply puzzled by the situation. After all, this was likely a world many years later, and he had no understanding of the current state of affairs. Natsu Yuu gave a simple explanation. Namely: In Konoha 17, during the First Ninja World War. The Second Raikage, taking advantage of Hashirama's death, launched a surprise attack on Konoha, but was repelled by the Second Hokage, Tobirama, leading the Konoha forces. Seeing the tide turn against him, the Second Raikage prepared to negotiate peace. However, the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers opposed it. The Second Raikage rejected their stance and still decided on peace and an alliance. As a result, during the peace conference, he was assassinated by Kinkaku and Ginkaku. The brothers also ambushed and severely wounded Tobirama Senju, then continued leading an elite force to pursue Tobirama, Hiruzen, and the others. Badly injured, Tobirama couldn't evacuate all six of his personal guards. He chose to stay behind as bait, using this sacrificial death to test his subordinates. Danzo had the impulse to volunteer as bait but, at the critical moment, hesitated out of fear and didn't speak up. At that point, Hiruzen stepped forward, willingly offering himself as bait. Tobirama praised Hiruzen's actions and appointed him as the next Hokage. Finally, he died a heroic death covering Hiruzen and the others' escape.

Hashirama watched everything unfolding below and murmured softly in admiration: "Testing his subordinates at a time like this—that really is something Tobirama would do!" "But he already decided to make Monkey the next Hokage long ago, didn't he? This test is just to make the team more convinced of Monkey's worth." "And that child Danzo—his hands are trembling. He has the impulse but still fears death. That's right, that's human instinct. Death isn't so easy to overcome!" "Everything I, Madara, and Tobirama did was to keep batch after batch of children from facing such brutal battlefield choices of life and death..." "As for Monkey, he's truly grown into a brave ninja." "I think he'll definitely become an excellent Hokage!"

To this, Natsu Yuu sneered coldly to himself.

Wait until next time, when you see this 'outstanding Monkey' and his pile of dogshit Council of Elders, in just twenty or thirty years, they'll have ruined the entire Senju Clan of the Forest.

Then you'll know what 'outstanding' really means.

But to be fair, at least in this period, Hiruzen and Danzo and the others could indeed be called outstanding.

Merits and faults don't cancel each other out; merits cannot erase the crimes committed. And the crimes of their later years cannot obscure their contributions to the village at this moment.

Soon, Hiruzen and his five companions left.

Leaving only Tobirama Senju behind, who began setting traps and acting as bait, preparing to delay the pursuit force of Kinkaku and Ginkaku.

His current condition was terrible.

Most of his chakra was depleted, his internal organs were displaced; he had just been holding on purely by willpower, maintaining the dignity of the Second Hokage in front of Hiruzen and the others.

He could only blame himself and the Second Raikage for being careless.

The Second Raikage never expected his own subordinate to dare a backstab, and he never expected the Raikage to be backstabbed by a subordinate! Thus turning the peace negotiation meeting into a trap.

As for the ambush, everything made sense now.

Even Six Paths Madara could have his heart pierced by Black Zetsu!

Though heavily injured, though left behind as bait, Tobirama had no intention of giving up easily.

He was, after all, the Second Hokage; at the very least, he would severely wound Kumogakure's pursuit force, killing at least one of Kinkaku or Ginkaku, to ensure Hiruzen and the others could return alive to Konoha.

'Ah, if only Elder Brother were still here.'

'These clowns don't even have the courage to start a war!'

Tobirama lamented as he continued setting traps.

At the same time, atop a tree branch, watching Tobirama's lonely figure, Hashirama felt deeply pained.

He couldn't imagine his proud younger brother being so lonely and wretched at this moment.

"Is that Kumogakure's Kinkaku and Ginkaku really that strong? I've never heard of them?"

Hashirama asked in a low voice.

Back when Tobirama killed Izuna, he was fierce—'swish'! And it was done quickly.

Natsu Yuu explained simply: "They wield the Six Paths Tools and possess some Nine-Tails Chakra; their strength is about the same as an average Kage. Normally, your brother could thrash both of them..."

"Then why?"

"Probably got ambushed, 'careless, didn't dodge'."

"I see!"

Hashirama understood. Ambushes were indeed despicable.

But after a pause.

He added, "Tobirama has really regressed. Later, I can't let him bury himself in researching Forbidden Jutsu anymore; I'll have to train his combat skills properly!"

Just then.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

Kinkaku and Ginkaku led a group of elite Cloud Ninjas flashing into the battlefield.

Seeing the enemy had arrived, Hashirama grew anxious.

With his strength, he could accurately judge that in Tobirama's current terrible state, he was likely no match for this Cloud Ninja force.

To save Tobirama, he had to act!

But could he act?

He was apparently in a future timeline sixteen years later; would rashly interfering cause some disaster?

Hashirama turned to look at Natsu Yuu, the urgency in his eyes seeming to seek the 'Sage's' approval.

"Don't rush, wait a bit before acting."

"Let your proud brother suffer a little more."

A living Tobirama was indeed more valuable than a dead one.

At the very least, it could better preserve Konoha's overall strength, making it easier for this Naruto World 2 to complete the task of unifying the Shinobi World.

And suffering a bit more now would also ignite Tobirama's anger, making it easier to convince him later to unify the Shinobi World.

This was Natsu Yuu's true purpose in having Hashirama descend at this point in time.